Volkswagen controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2020
Volkswagen announces recall of 55 imported Tiguan vehicles in China
Recall announced
Volkswagen (China) Sales Co. announced a recall covering 55 imported 2017–2018 model-year Tiguan vehicles. The roof spoiler may detach because the adhesive bonding effect was affected by insufficient factory work instructions. The recall repairs are scheduled to begin on August 15, 2020; the company will install fixing bolts free of charge.
Stated objective. 消除安全隐患
Company response
Recall — Volkswagen (China) Sales Co.
大众汽车(中国)销售有限公司将免费为召回范围内的车辆加装车顶扰流板固定螺栓，以消除安全隐患。
Source excerpt
易车讯 5月22日，我们从国家市场监督管理总局官网获悉
由于工厂整备工序对于安装车顶扰流板的作业指导不充分(温度、时间、清洁度等)，影响了接合剂的粘合效果，造成车顶扰流板可能从车身脱落。
自2020年8月15日起，召回2016年10月13日至2017年2月7日期间生产的部分2017-2018年款进口Tiguan，共计55辆。
2020
Volkswagen apologizes for racist Instagram ad and says it will investigate
Company response
Volkswagen removed an ad from its German Instagram account after admitting it was racist. A spokesperson apologized and said the company would investigate how it happened and draw necessary consequences.
Company response
Apology — Volkswagen
A VW spokesperson said told CNBC via email:Â "We firmly distance ourselves from the video and apologize sincerely.
Investigation — Volkswagen
We will investigate how this could have happened â and draw the necessary consequences.
Apology — Volkswagen
German automaker Volkswagen apologized Thursday for an advertisement that appeared to show a black man being mocked and literally flicked away by a pair of white hands.
Source excerpt
The ad, which has since been deleted, featured a giant white hand emerging from outside of the frame.
Volkswagen has since apologized for the racist ad.
A racist advertisement, aimed to promote the auto manufacturer’s new Golf 8, was posted on the official Volkswagen Instagram page.
2020
Audi recalls more than 100,000 vehicles over Takata airbags
Recall announced
More than 100,000 older Audi vehicles are being recalled because faulty Takata airbags could deploy too slowly or with excessive force, potentially causing injury or death. Audi manufacturer Volkswagen said it would begin notifying affected owners in late March and did not yet have repair parts.
Source excerpt
Over 100,000 of Audi's older vehicles are being recalled over faulty Takata airbags.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warns moisture could leak into airbags through a defective seal, causing the airbag to either deploy too slowly or with too much force, which could lead to injury or death.
Audi manufacturer Volkswagen says it will start notifying affected vehicle owners in late March, but the company doesn't have parts yet to fix the issue.
2020
Toronto court fines Volkswagen over Canadian environmental-law violations
Fine or penalty
A Toronto court fined Volkswagen €135 million after the company pleaded guilty to 58 counts of violating Canadian environmental laws. The article links the case to manipulation of diesel-emissions data.
Source excerpt
Volkswagen's German carmaker fined €135m by a Toronto court after pleading guilty to 58 counts of violating Canadian environmental laws in a worldwide scandal for manipulating data on the diesel emissions of his cars, France Press and DPA reported.
2019
Prevent Group sued Volkswagen over alleged anticompetitive tactics
Lawsuit filed
Volkswagen parts supplier Prevent Group filed a lawsuit alleging that Volkswagen used anticompetitive tactics to prevent larger suppliers from acquiring smaller rivals in the United States. Prevent sought more than $750 million in damages. The allegations are not a court determination.
Source excerpt
Prevent has filed the lawsuit in Eastern District of Michigan and is seeking damages in excess of $750 million.
(Reuters) - Volkswagen parts supplier Prevent Group on Monday filed a lawsuit alleging the German automaker <VOWG_p.DE> used anticompetitive tactics to stop larger suppliers like the company from acquiring smaller rivals in the United States.
2019
Volkswagen Vietnam responds to nine-dash line map displayed in Touareg
Company response
Volkswagen Vietnam stated that it had displayed a China-imported Touareg with a nine-dash line map at the 2019 Vietnam Motor Show. According to the company, the navigation app had been deactivated and the vehicle would be re-exported. After the exhibition ended, Volkswagen Vietnam said it would re-export the car earlier than planned.
Volkswagen Vietnam said it had displayed a China-imported Touareg with a nine-dash line map at the 2019 Vietnam Motor Show. The company said the navigation app had been deactivated and that the vehicle would be re-exported; after the exhibition ended, it said it would re-export the car earlier than planned.
Company response
Remediation — Volkswagen Vietnam
Currently, the car's navigation app has been deactivated and will be re-exported on time in accordance with Vietnam customs law,
Source excerpt
Since the motor show also ended on the same day, the company no longer needed the car for display and will re-export it earlier than expected.
Volkswagen Vietnam admitted its carelessness after displaying the China-imported Touareg with nine-dash line map at 2019 Vietnam Motor Show.
China's nine-dash line claims 90 percent of the 3.5-million-square-kilometer East Sea, known internationally as South China Sea. It has been strongly opposed by the international community.
2019
Volkswagen expands recall of selected imported vehicles in China
Recall announced
Volkswagen (China) Sales Co. announced an expansion of a recall covering 14 selected imported Golf, Beetle, Caddy, and Multivan vehicles. The company cited incomplete production traceability records and possible hardware deviations that could affect safety systems or fault diagnosis. The source states that the expanded recall began on December 19, 2019.
Source excerpt
大众汽车（中国）销售有限公司由于车辆的生产追溯性记录不完整，可能存在与量产车相关配置不一致的情况，无法确认其部分安全系统是否受影响，同时车辆可能存在影响故障诊断的硬件偏差，存在安全隐患。决定自2019年12月19日起，扩大召回2008年2月25日至2017年10月9日期间生产的部分进口2008-2017年款高尔夫、甲壳虫、凯路威及迈特威汽车，共计14辆。
2019
Volkswagen fined $125m in Australia over diesel emissions disclosures
Fine or penalty
An Australian federal court imposed a record $125m fine on Volkswagen AG after declaring by consent that the company had not disclosed two-mode software when seeking approval to supply and import more than 57,000 vehicles. The article says the software produced higher emissions during actual use than in test mode.
Company response
Ongoing disclosure — Volkswagen AG
In a statement, Volkswagen AG said it “had agreed in principle to the smaller sum and is now reviewing the court’s reasons for deviating from that amount”.
Remediation — Volkswagen
The car manufacturer said most cars have now had an update to the engine control software under an ongoing voluntary recall.
Source excerpt
The Federal Court found Volkswagen should have disclosed the information to the government when it sought approval to supply and import more than 57,000 cars into Australia between 2011 and 2015.
The fine – the biggest on record for a breach of Australian consumer law – was handed down on Friday after the federal court declared by consent Volkswagen AG did not disclose the existence of “two-mode” software when it sought approval to supply and import more than 57,000 vehicles into Australia between 2011 and 2015.
Volkswagen fined $125 million for misleading customers about emissions
2015
Diesel emissions-testing scandal
Regulators found that certain Volkswagen diesel vehicles used software capable of detecting official emissions tests and changing emissions-control behavior. The matter led to investigations, recalls, lawsuits, penalties and lasting damage to Volkswagen’s reputation and strategic direction. Regulators and investigators found that software in certain Volkswagen diesel vehicles could detect laboratory testing and alter emissions behavior. The affair generated recalls, investigations, lawsuits, penalties, senior-management turnover, and significant reputational damage. It also accelerated Volkswagen’s strategic move toward battery-electric vehicles and tighter oversight of software and compliance.
2015
Conduct during Brazil’s military dictatorship
Former employees and activists accused Volkswagen do Brasil of monitoring workers and sharing information with authorities during the military dictatorship. Volkswagen commissioned an expert examination of the historical allegations.
1998
Forced labour during the Nazi period
Volkswagen acknowledged that its wartime production relied on forced labour, including people connected to concentration-camp systems. Survivors pursued restitution, and Volkswagen established a voluntary fund.